Apparatus for determining the alcohol in a liquid



Feb. 14, 1928.

B. STEIN APPARATUS FOR DETERMININ G THE ALCOHOL IN A LIQUID Filed April l5t 1927 lNVENTOR 550m/az@ ,5G-wv BY f I ATTORNEY Patented eb. *14, 1928.

PATENT' orifice.

Beernem) STEIN, `or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.'

APPAR-.ATUS FOR DETERMINING THE ALCOHOL IN A LIQUID.

Application filed April 15,1927. VSerial No. 184,146.

This invention relates to apparatus enabling the alcoholic Vcontentof a liquid which is to be tested to be determined, which apparatus is based upon theldetermination of the boiling point of the'liquid `to be tested. In-

struments .in this general class kare termed ebullioscopes or .ebulliom'etersand are mostly used for determining :the 'amount of :alcohol in :liquids which contain besides alcohol and water, further substances,l.such iliquids being, for example, beer, wine,lale, cider, nearber, cerealand-similar beverages more or less alcoholic. Inorder to accurately determine. the per, centage of alcohol in a liquid, it is` necessary to note the air pressure prevailing during the testing of the liquid. The instruments ora apparatusheretofore in use for that purpose have no special provision vfor determiningA the kinfluence of the 'air pressure while the` testing `is taling'place. With such prior in-y strunients the boiling point of water is first determined and thereafter the boiling point ofthe liquidto'be tested foralcohol is determined by using the same container as was used for determining the boiling point of, Water. rlChis procedure will not 'give eXact results, which results are most desirable when determining the amount of alcohol contained in a liquid -in which the amount" does not run very high. It consumes abut:lv

fifteen minutes from the time the heatingof' the water is commenced until the water is boiling; after whichit Atakes at least fifteen minutes more `toreadjust the instrument; and finally another fifteen minutes, `untilithev liquid to be tested will have commenced .to' boil. This means that" it takes forty-five minutes from start to'finish. However, it is well known7 and I personally have made, particularly in connection with `boiling point determinations, frequent observations, that within a few minutes of time theair pres# sure changed so greatlythat the boiling point had changed to such an extent that the liquids to be tested for alcohol showed a difference of several per cent. Therefore, the testing apparatus orinstrument ofthe present invention is basedupon the -factfthat the only correct and safe way to make a. successful use of apparatus orinstruyAr ments of the kind and which are based upon"L the method of boiling point determination, is

tomale the determinationof theboiling point of the liquid te betested simultaneously with the .determination .of the boiling point of the water,.and in-one and the same apparatus.

Vith this and `other'objects in view my inventionconsistsof certain .features of construction and 'combinations .of parts .to y'be hereinafter desoribedfand then claimed with reference :to the accompanying' .drawinfr illustrating the preferredl .embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawing, the apparatus `is vshown partly in section and partly in elevation.

lReferring to the drawing, a `Water bath vis provided comprising a container 1 supported upon asuitable frame 2 and providedwith .a cover. The ywater bath -may be heated by an alcohol lamp for heat maybe :obtained in any other preferred manner. The water bath is vprovided with :an outlet `5 for'the escape rof steam .and :to relieve l.the .internal pressure. v i

The cover 3 supports a thermometer 6, and preferably the same rises vertically `from said cover. Preferably the thermometeris graduated into ten or more vgraduations 7 indicating yten vdegrees lor .more centigrade, and each space between -thesuccessive graduations 7 is subdivided into twenty parts, as indicated in the .upper part of .the .thermomef ter shown. rEhe water bath .of ,course will contain. the water which is .to be brought to boiling, and vwhen the lmercuryncolumn .or other .expansiwie medium :formingthe column rises .to .the kgraduation whichv will indicate thatthe water is boiling, Jthe Vcolumn will become steady and the temperature at .whichl the water hasboiled 'will be indicatedby the thermometer inthe usual mannen The lcover y3 'of the water -bath supportsv in a suitable manner a receptacle 8 which extendsinto ythe air spacewinthe upper part of therwater bath. ,'lvhis'receptacle may be' flanged `so that it may beinserted through an opening in the cover, untilfthe viiange 9`rests upon the coverso 'as to support fthe.

f ebullioscopes.

termination of the boiling point of the liquid to be tested and which is in the receptacle 8. lreferably the second thermometer 11 rises vertically from the receptacle-cover 10 fI-o as to be adjacent to and parallel with the first mentioned thermometer 6.

Preferably the second thermometer 11 is provided with a sliding scale 12 which is guided thereon by means of suitable guides 13 aiiixed to the scale and engaging over the thermometer tube 11. PIflic scale 12 has t-he numbers for its graduations 14C running in inverse relation to the progression of the numbers of the graduations of the thermometer 6. This is necessary because the boiling point of the liquid to be tested will practically at all times be lower than the boiling point of water indicated on the thermometer 6, and in practice the distances between the graduations slightly increase progressively downwardly on thescale as is well lrnown to those who are experienced in the use of However, the drawing preented herewith is in such relatively small dimensions, as compared with the full-sized apparatus, that it is impossible to show on the scale of thermometer 11 the actual varying distances between graduations for enabling an exact determination of alcoholic content by volume. Such scale for actual use is graduated according to the various boiling points of alcoholic mixtures, corresponding with the percentage of alcohol by volume or weight, at a given atmospheric pressure. Hence, the drawing is only by way of suggestion to those skilled in the art.

Each space between successive graduations 14 is shown as subdivided into twenty parts, as indicated in the upper part of the scale 12, but it is obvious that there may be a finer sub-division, as for example fifty or one hundred parts, for very exact determinations. There would here also be a shade of difference in distance between the sub-divisions, but this is impossible of illustration. A sliding scale 12 is preferred, but it is obvious that the thermometer 11 may be graduated throughout its tube in the usual manner, although to determine the percentage of alcohol by the boiling point of the liquid to be tested the well known tables will have to be resorted to.

The reflux condenser 15 is preferably employed for condensing the vapors rising from the receptacle 8, to which end the same also preferably extends vertically upwards parallel with the two thermometers. A reflux condenser, such as illustrated, is for the purpose of maintaining the liquid to be tested at normal strength, by returning the condenser vapors to receptacle 8.

In the operation of the described apparatus preferably pure water is used in the water bath, and after the lamp or burner i under the water bath is lighted, the water will start to boil in a short time. When the water has been heated to the boiling point, the column of mercury in the thermometer 6 will cease to fiuctuate and will become stationary, and then the temperature at which the boiling point has been attained, may be read off from the thermometer 6 in the usual manner. As soon as the thermometer 6 shows that the water has been heated to the boiling point, if, for example, the thermometer indicates a boiling point of one hundred degrees centigrade, the zero marl: (0) of the sliding scale 12 is adjusted by moving the scale so as to set such zero mark directly in horizontal alignment with the graduation indicating one hundred degrees centigrade on thermometer 6. The,

movement of the scale 12 and the registration of the Zero mark thereon with the graduation of one hundred degrees centigrade on thermometer 6 talles but a moment. rlhe percentage of alcohol contained in the liquid to be tested may then be simultaneously read off from the scale 12 of the thermometer 11 after the column of mercury therein becomes stationary.

In the drawing it is assumed that the mercury column of thermometer 11 has risen so as to indicate fifteen twentieths of one per cent of alcohol in the liquid which is being tested. lt will be perfectly clear how the determinations and reading may be made without further explanation. Outstanding features of the present invention are the enabling of the simultaneous reading, in the same apparatus, of the boiling point of the liquid to be tested with the boiling point shown for the water, and the consequent saving of time. These factors are of eXtreme importance, because the two readings may be made with respect to the atmospheric pressure at a given time. As another factor in the saving of time, it may be mentioned that it is necessary to eliminate from the usual water container all water which had been therein before the liquid to be tested is placed in the same container, as is customary practice.

Preferably the thermometer 6 is provided with an indicating marlr 16 and the thermometer 11 with a similar indicating mark 17. rihese two indicating marks are located at the adjacent lower endsof the thermometers and their purpose is to provide convenient indexes to the one who adjusts the apparatus. That is to say when the indicating marks 16, 17 are in horizontal alignment they indicate that the thermometers -have been submerged in their appropriate receptacles for a safe distance, with the lower ends of the tubes above the water which is introduced into the water bath and the liquid which is introduced into the rcceptacle 8.

For the purpose of obtaining more accunasspeo the plug 18. A similar plug 19 of hard rubber or other insulating-material is p`rov vided for the thermometer 11, to fit snugly into a hole inthe receptacle cover 10.

Other changes in the illustrated and described apparatus can of course be resorted to by ithose skilled inthe art Without departn ing `*from the invention as defined inthe appended claims; for instance, a thermometer graduated exactly asdepicted "in the drawing lon scale 12 may be used to determine the percentage of alcohol from the boiling points of the liquid to be tested, respectiveu ly, of the corrected boiling points according to the prevailing boiling'point of Water during the operation. I

`What I claim as new is:

1. In apparatus for determining the alcoholic content of a liquid to be tested, the combination of a Water-bath, a thermometer to indicate the boiling point of Water in vthe Water-bath, a receptacle for the liquid to be tested and which extends into the air space of the Water-bath, a second thermometer mounted on the receptacle, and to be read simultaneously with the first thermometer When the columns of expansive medium in both thermometers become stationary, and a condenser for vapors arising from the receptacle; whereby the percentage of alcohol in the liquid may be determined when the columns of both thermometers become stationary.

2. In apparatus for determining the alco-` holic content of a liquid to be tested, the

l combination of a Water-bathg a thermometer supported by the cover of the Water-bath yse and to indicatethe boiling point of Water in the water-bath, a receptacle for the. liquid to be tested and Which is supported by the said cover and extends into the air space of the Water-bath, a second thermometer mounted on the receptacle, and` to be read simultaneously with the first thermometer when the columns ot expansive mediu'n'i in both thermometers become stationary, and

,a condenser for vapors arising from the re`- ceptacle: Wherebythe percentage of alcohol 1n the liquid may be determined when the columns of both thermometers become stationary. t

3. In apparatus for determining the alcoholic content of a liquid to be tested, the combination of a Water-bath, a thermometer supported by the cover of the water-bath and to indicate ,the boiling point of Water in theWater-bath, a.` receptacle for the liquid to vbe tested andy which is supported bythe said cover and extends into the airspace otl the Water-bath, a second thermometer mounted on the receptacle, and to be read simultaneously With the ,lirst` thermometer When the columns otfexpansive medium in both thermometers become stationary, and a condenser iifor vapors-arising kfrom the receptacle; whereby the percentage yot' alcohol in the liquid may be determined when the columns of both thermometers become stationary, both ot the thermometers being directly `supported by heat insulating material. Y

e. In apparatus for determining the alcoholic content of a liquid to be tested, the

combination .of a Water-bath,a thermometer supported by the cover of the water-bath and to indicate the boilingpoint of water in the Watenbatlna receptacle :for the liquid to be tested and which is supported 'bythe said cover and extends into the airspace of the Water-bath, a second thermometer mounted on the receptacle, and to be read simultaneously with the first thermometer when the columns of expansive medium in both thermometers become stationary, and a condenser for vapors arising from the receptacle; whereby the percentage of alcohol rin the liquid may be determined When the columns of both thermometers become stationary, the covers of the Water-bath and the receptacles-having plugs of vheat insulating material through which the thermometers extend.

5. In apparatus for determining the alco-V 'i holic content of a liquid to be tested, the

ymometers become stationary.

6. In apparatus for determining the alcoholic content of ay liquid to be tested, the combination of Water-bath, a graduated thermometer to indicate the boiling point of Water in the Water-bath, a receptaclefor the liquid kto be tested and which extends into the air space of the Water-bath, a second thermometer mounted on the receptacle and having graduations reading reversely to Y those of the first thermometer and Whichindicate the percentage of alcohol inv alcoyWater in the Water-bath, n

holic liquids based upon the boiling` points of such liquids at the seme air pressure, and the thermometers adapted to be read simultaneously when the columns oit expansive medium in both thermometers become stationary, and e condenser for the vapors arising,l from the receptacle; whereby the percentage of alcohol in the liquid may be determined when the columns of both thermometers become stationary.

7. In apparatus 'tor determining the elco holic content of liquid to be tested, the combination of e Weterbeth, e thermometer, rising,` vertically from the cover of the Waterbath, and to indicate the boiling' point of covered receptaole for the liquidto be tested, the receptacle extending into the air space. of the Water-bath, e second thermon'ieter, rising vertically from the cover oil the receptacle, and to be read simultaneous y with the Vfirst thermometer when the columns of expensive medium in both thermometers become stationary, und a. condenser for vapors arising from the receptacle, whereby the percentage of alcohol in the liquid may be de- `tei-mined when the columns Yoit both thermometers become Stationary.

' 8. In apparatus for determining the alcoholic. content of e liquid to be tested, the combination of a Water-birth, uA thermometer, rising vertically from the cover ot the Weterbath, und to indicate the boiling point of Water inthe Water-bath, a covered receptacle for the liquid to be tested, the recepecle extending into the air space of the VTeter-lmth, a second thermometer, rising vertically from the cover of the receptacle, and to be reed simultaneously with the first thermometer when the columns ci expansive medium inboth thermometers become stutionury, both thermometers beine] parallel and having` horizontally aligneble gradw ations for enabling the correct vertical adjustment of the thermometers to be readily ascertained, and e condenser for vapors arising` from the receptacle, whereby the percentage of alcohol in the liquid may be determined when the columns of both thermometers become stationery.

BERTHOLD STEIN.' 

